Tigers have perfect free agent first base option to pursue that can help young roster

Four-time All-Star, 2019 NL Rookie of the Year, and three-time MVP votes recipient Pete Alonso is indisputably the hottest first baseman on the free agent market this season. He's likely to have the Mets at least extend him an offer to re-sign him, but he'll have no problem finding other suitors who will challenge whatever the Mets might put on the table.

The Detroit Tigers have a first base problem with Spencer Torkelson's future still unclear, and Alonso checks a lot of boxes. He's exactly the righty with power that the front office has said they'll be looking for this offseason, and although it's unlikely he'll ever reach the same heights as he did in 2019 or even 2022, a guy who can reliably give a team 30+ homers every season is hard to turn your nose up at.

However, Alonso will be far, far out of the Tigers' price range. He doesn't necessarily have to be; Detroit has a projected payroll of just $80 million and are at greater liberty to spend this year, but it's likely they've already reportedly balked at Alonso's $200 million+ price tag in free agency.

Although Alonso's taking up most of the air in the room when it comes to free agent first basemen, there are far more affordable (and therefore still viable) options for the Tigers to explore. Giving Alonso around seven years and over $200 million will be a gamble for whatever team he ends up with, as all signs point to a decline as he gets past the age of 30.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel isn't convinced by all of the Alonso hype, and instead suggested that teams should invest in players like Paul Goldschmidt, who is a free agent for the first time in his career. If the Tigers can't or are unwilling to chase a guy like Alonso, Goldschmidt definitely fills out the profile of a guy Detroit would like.

Tigers could shift first base focus to Paul Goldschmidt in free agency

Goldschmidt — who was the NL MVP in 2022, 12 years into his career and after nine candidacies — isn't the player he used to be, and is most likely looking at a one-year deal around $15 million. In 2024, he put up some of the worst numbers in his career at the plate but still gave the Cardinals 22 homers (first of any St. Louis batter) and 65 RBI.

Despite a lot of hopes that the Tigers would make a splash on the free agent market, they've seemingly reverted to old tactics and will be looking to limit risk. Goldschmidt is a perfect solution if the Tigers haven't completely given up on Torkelson yet; if they signed Goldschmidt to a one-year pact, they could work out some sort of a platoon at first base and DH with Kerry Carpenter.

Javy Báez is the only veteran presence in the lineup, and the Tigers are planning on platooning him with a rookie next season, which is a bad look all-around. If they're serious about wanting some veteran know-how to help guide the youngest team in baseball, Goldschmidt could be a perfect (and cheap) solution.